Rules and Guidelines on Pre-Schools and Play Schools

February 16, 2018

Rules and Guidelines on Pre-Schools and Play Schools

Pre-school Education is one of the six services provided to the Children of 3-6 years of age under Anganwadi Services Scheme. The Ministry has notified the National Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) Policy on 27.09.2013. The vision of the policy is to achieve holistic development and active learning capacity of the child below six years of age. It recognizes multiple models of ECCE service delivery through public, private, and non-governmental service providers including Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), play schools, pre-schools, etc.

The Policy clearly lays down basic non-negotiable quality standards to be followed by all ECCE service providers. The standardized facilities envisaged in the Policy inter alia, relate to building and infrastructure; safety and security aspects; pupil-teacher interaction; caregiver; child ratio; learning experiences planned for children; health, nutrition and protection measures; qualification and professional development of staff; parent and community involvement and organisation and management of the ECCE provision.

For ensuring optimal development of children, National ECCE Curriculum Framework and Quality Standards for ECCE has been notified and circulated to all States/UTs on 23rd January, 2014.

The Government has also issued guidelines on 23rd November, 2010 regarding procedure for admission in schools in class 1 (or pre-primary class as the case may be) under section 12(1)(c) under RTE Act, 2009.

Ministry of WCD has released the following documents on 01.09.2017:
i. Activity Books for 3-4 years old children
ii. Activity Books for 4-5 years old children
iii. Activity Books for 5-6 years old children
iv. Recommended list for Play and Learning Material (PSE Kit)
v. Child Assessment Card

The above documents have been circulated to all States/UTs for wide dissemination upto the pre-primary school level with minor modifications, if required.

There are no plans to close the pre-school education provided at the Anganwadi Centers in the country.